More Watercolor Backgrounds

Continuing in my watercolor mode, I am using Distress reinkers and Dylusions sprays as my watercolor medium. I added a few drops of ink, one color at a time, onto my craft sheet. I dipped a paintbrush into a jar of water, then into the ink, swishing it to mix. Then I "painted" my watercolor paper. Repeated this process with each color. At the end, when I had used up most of the ink on the craft sheet, I placed the paper directly onto the craft sheet for the splotch-y look you see at the end.

 Update, May 7, 2015 for some reason my images were missing today. I added them back, hopefully they'll stay put.

Materials:

 Distress reinkers: dried marigold, spun sugar, worn lipstick, shabby shutters, peeled paint, scattered straw,

wild honey, barn door, aged mahogany

Dylusions ink spray: London blue, postbox red, fresh lime, pure sunshine

Stamps: Stampin' Up!, ERA Graphics, Dawn Houser/Inkadinkado, Suzy Toronto, Hampton Arts, Stampers Anonymous, Autumn Leaves, Rubber Stampede

Watercolor Backgrounds

Happy Monday...well, the day is almost over, but I just wanted to share the watercolor fun I had today.

I started with Koh-I-Noor watercolors but it was difficult to get a nice amount of color with these.

I liked Lynette's Angora watercolors much better.

I decided to try Distress Reinkers for the 2nd and 3rd pieces.

I just touched the tip of the eye dropper applicator to my craft sheet 

and added a bit of water with my brush. 

Much easier! 

Plus I have a ton of these in lots of colors.

I've grouped my work in twos: background, then stamped card.

Used Versafine Black Onyx ink to stamp the images.

Materials:

Koh-I-Noor watercolors, Reinkers, brush, water
Viva Decor Pearl Pen Transparent

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Stamps: Stampin' Up!, Stampers Anonymous, Hampton Arts, Paper Impressions, Inkadinkado

Circle Blouse

Finished this circle blouse just in time for our friend's special birthday party tonight!

Made the pants, too, but this post is about the top.

I found instructions on Naomi's Draped Jersey Circle Top Tutorial

I also referred to Golden Needles Designs blog  for placement of the "side seam" stitching.

 I like how Naomi added a band to the neckline. I used a thin woven polyester fabric which tended to fray.

Recently I made Golden Needles' butterfly blouse with cotton fabric but the sleeves did not flow nicely. The directions on her blog said to use a fabric that draped. My bad! Also Golden's method of folding under the neckline was tedious. Was afraid it would be difficult with a fabric that frays. 

I was thrilled to sew a narrow hem on the edges of my circle blouse with my serger. I didn't have special thread. Just used regular serger thread and it worked fine!  I found support for sewing the hem on Sew Mama Sew as well as my serger manual, which is another story...I cannot find my manual, but did find a 39 page PDF file online, so that is printed and in a binder! It has a nice chart for Rolled, Hem, Picot Edge and Narrow Hem.

Overlap Shoulder Newborn Gown

I made an Overlap Shoulder Newborn Gown with a free pattern from Rachel at Stitched Together.
I think this was slightly faster than Virginia Lindsay's Gingercake gown pattern.
However, both are really quick, easy and fun to make.

I used left over print fabric for the front, and solid white fabric for the back.

We have to wait to see which neckline is preferred by the mommy and daddy, when baby arrives.

We are jumping each time the phone rings. What a joyful time!!!

I used the old Stretch n Sew "chanel trim" method for the neckline.

Sewed the 1.5 inch wide strip to the RIGHT side,
folded it to the wrong side, pinned it

then "stitched in the ditch" from the RIGHT side, removing pins before sewing.

It is very easy and looks nice, I think.

a closer view

See the inside part of the gown where the trim has been folded over.
This stitching is done from the other side...the right side.

 This is the front. You can see faint stitching on the left. The stitching is done right in the seam line
hence, "stitch in the ditch".

The stitching line is barely visible.

When I sew seams in knit fabrics, I always stretch the fabric a bit.
Then I either stitch another row, half way to the edge of the fabric or serge the edge.
Most of the time I use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
For the sleeve hem I pressed under the 1/2 inch hem before sewing the gown side seams.
You can sew the sleeve hem first, while the fabric is flat if you wish.
I like the more finished look of sewing the side seams first.
A GREAT BIG THANKS to
Rachel from Stitched Together and Virginia Lindsay from Gingercake
for so generously sharing their newborn gown patterns!

Backgrounds Stampfest

Yesterday Lynette and I spent the day stamping.
We found several ideas online and made several cards.

These wood grain background cards were inspired by  Karen Dunbrook's Snippets blog.
You can always click on images to see a larger version.

We inked the top (logo side) of the wood design embossing folders with antique linen distress ink.

Spritzed it with a fine mist of water, then placed paper on top, pressing it down by hand

smoothing the entire surface with our fingers.

 To stamp the floral images, we misted the stamps with water first.

Then colored directly onto the stamps with a brown Staedtler watercolor crayon.

 Some images were stamped 2 or 3 times without reapplying color for lighter imprints.

The sentiments were stamped with distress walnut stain

using Hero Arts Real Dill and Stampin' Up!'s Golden Silhouettes.

Stamps: Stampin' Up!, Hero Arts Real Dill, Stampendous, Verses

Embossing folders:  Sizzix Woodgrain and Wood Planks

Inspired by Karen Dunbrook's Snippets 

we used a combo of  mowed lawn and peacock feathers distress ink for this background.

Applied the ink directly to an acrylic block, spirtzed with water

then pressed onto 4 x 5.25 inch piece of cardstock. 

I found that I could "stamp" multiple times to add more and more color to the paper.

Above is Lynette's sympathy card.

 

Here's a different Embossing Folder Stamping technique we learned from Sandra's blog. 

Inked Stampin' Up!'s French script stamp with peacock feathers distress ink, 

stamped directly on the top/logo side of the embossing folder, 

added the paper and ran it through the Cuttlebug.

Distress inks work well with this because they stay wet a fairly long time.

Lynette and I made these Easel cards inspired by Hetty Sanders' Z-fold design.

Embossing folder-Stylized Flowers

Stamps-Stampin' Up! Michael Strong

Inks-Distress peacock feathers, mowed lawn, pickled raspberry

Versafine onyx black 

Lynette made hers into a Confirmation card for her granddaughter.

Using Sandra's Embossing Folder Stamping technique again

Lynette inked Judikins musical notes background stamp with tea dye distress ink, 

stamped directly on the top/logo side of the Birds & Swirls embossing folder, 

added the paper and ran it through the Cuttlebug.

Then Lynette sponged the...

birds with tumbled glass then broken china.

leaves in shabby shutters then peeled paint

and sponged tea dye in the other areas.

 (Note: added updated ink info April 21)

Here's Lynette's finished Easel Card.

Below is mine.

I used walnut stain distress ink by mistake (instead of the lighter tea dye) 

when stamping the musical notes on the embossing folder.

I didn't want it to be that dark, so I set it aside until today when I sponged with 

broken china, mowed lawn, spun sugar and edge sponged with frayed burlap. 

I added a bottom layer on the easel card using part of Birds and Branches embossing folder by Sizzix.

Used a Hero Arts sentiment stamp.

Inspired by Heather Telford's Watercolor technique we used Lynette's Angora watercolors, 

brushing on color in layers as shown. 

Lynette found that she could control the color with paper towels removing color here and there.

I kept adding watercolor to my papers, then held the paper up to create drip lines.

Stamps: Michael Strong, Stampin' Up!, Tim Holtz, Stampendous.

Thanks for visiting!

Flower Birthday Card

Continuing to celebrate spring, I made this quick birthday card.

 

 

Materials

Stamps: Hero Arts, PrintWorks, Rubber Stampede, Stampin' Up!

Inks

Stampin' Up!-summer sun, certainly celery, wild wasabi

Distress-scattered straw, seedless preserves, worn lipstick, crushed olive

Versafine-onyx black

Markers

Distress-crushed olive, worn lipstick, pickled raspberry

Yay Spring!

My tulips and daffodils are opening. The trees have little green leaves popping.
Made this Z-fold card to celebrate SPRING!

Materials

Stamps: Michael Strong, Inkadinkado, Stamps by Judith, Rubber Stampede

Inks: 

Distress tumbled glass, broken china

Stampin' Up! summer sun, certainly celery, wild wasabi, lavender lace

Viva Decor Pearl Pen-magic transparent

Embossing Folder Stamping

I couldn't wait to try Sandra's embossing folder technique after spotting it online yesterday.

Following her directions, I stamped directly on the inside top of the embossing folder 

before running it through my cuttlebug.

I used a musical notes background stamp from Judikins and tea dye distress ink.

It worked like a charm! Only the background had the stamped part.

The birds and swirls remained un-inked!

I think you end up with a mirror image of the stamp, but it's not very noticeable for this stamp.

I pretty much CASE'd her card except I used distress tea dye and spun sugar inks.

Had so much fun with it, I made two more slight variations.

 Materials:

Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls embossing folder

Stamps: Rubber Stampede, Stampabilities, Stampin' Up!

Zig black marker

Fibers from my stash

Thanks for visiting!

File Folder Card

I just love interactive cards that are easy to make!

Made this for my friend Lynette, who's always inviting me to a stampfest at her house!
A little info on how I made this--
Cut a piece of cardstock in half to get 4.25 x 5.5". Fold that in half.
I found that I can use my new Envelope Punch Board to cut the tabs.
However, it's easy to trim the tabs by hand.
Just use your paper trimmer and cut away part of the edge 1/2 inch wide, leaving a tab.
With a scissors and corner rounder you can finish off the tabs.

 I added a cream layer that I ran through a paper crimper.
You can see I'm still using old book paper. 

I like the way the typewriter ABC stamps look on it!

For the inside, I cut a couple of "pages".
It was fun to add office ephemera, travel stamps and word stamps
to create your own "collage".

Materials
Inks: Distress brushed corduroy, frayed burlap, pumice stone
Stampin' Up! not quite navy
Stamps: Hero Arts, Stampin' Up!,
Nostalgiques Typewriter ABC set & Words from the Heart
both by Rebecca Sower designs
Fiskars Paper Crimper
Envelope Punch Board

Thanks for visiting!

More Book Page Flower Cards

 Here's a card that I wanted to share from last Monday's stampfest with Lynette.

We had a blast stamping!
Lynette helped me with this past week's Card of the day for the EMS group.
Thank you, Lynette!

On this card we used SU's botanicals on book paper, stamped in  certainly celery.
Regal rose was used for the Hero Arts flowers, which were fussy cut.
We stamped our sentiment in certainly celery too.
A Viva Decor Pearl Pen-cream was used on the centers of the flowers.

 I just kept on making book page cards this week.
For this one I used wild wasabi and cameo coral.

Another easel card, based on Hetty Sanders's design,
features wild wasabi and cameo coral inks.
I used Michael Strong's large cloisonne flower stamped in cameo coral.
Then I stamped it again in wild wasabi and fussy cut 2 petals for "leaves".
Can't take credit for this cool idea...saw it somewhere in blog-land.
Added a dry embossed layer to the base of the card to help it stand up.
Used Viva Decor pens to accent flower and leaves:
Clear Magic Transparent to the center of flower and sprinkled Hero Arts prisms glitter on top.
Pea Green Glitter pen to leaves as shown.

Materials:
Stamps: Michael Strong, Stampin' Up!, Savvy Stamps and unknown stamp
Inks: certainly celery, regal rose, wild wasabi, cameo coral
Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder
Viva Decor Pearl Pen Cream

Thanks so much for visiting!

Friday Card of the Day

Can you tell how much I like Michael Strong's mini flower stamp!
It is so pretty and versatile!

A great BIG THANKS to Lynette
for working with me on this card at her stampfest on Monday.

Today's card was inspired  by Laura Bassen's Paper Smooches frame card.
We stamped our card base with garden silhouettes in yellow.
Made our "frame" with Labels Eight Nestabilities and white cardstock,

running the dies through the cuttlebug twice:

the larger die first
then placing the smaller die on the cut-out to create the "frame".

We trimmed the right edge of the frame as shown.

Dimensional foam was used to adhere the frame to the card.

On white cardstock, we stamped Mike's mini flower in blue, fussy cut 

(I sponged the edges of mine) and adhered with dimensional foam

except where it touched the frame.

Stamped the sentiment with Versafine black onyx centering it in the framed area.

Materials:

Stamps: Michael Strong, Stampin' Up!

Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Eight

Inks:Mustard seed & broken china Distress, Versafine black onyx

Thank you for visiting!!

Thursday's Card of the Day

Today's card features Michael Strong's Mini Flowers and Oval Numbers.

For the 1st technique I referred to Hetty Sanders' Easel Technique

 which I love because it's quick and easy and fun.

The Base turquoise blue layer is 4.25 x 11 inches, folded in half crosswise.

The top part of that folded in half again upwards.

Top kraft layer is 4 x 5.25 inches

White layer is 3.75 x 5 inches (this is the Embossing folder technique layer).

On the inside (base of your easel card) I use 2 pieces of cardstock:

1. The bottom kraft layer is dry embossed for dimension 

so the top easel part will fit in the little ridge and stay open.

I stamped Mike's cloisonne numbers, "3" and "0"

in pickled raspberry and tempting turquoise,

punched them out and sponged the edges before adhering with dimensional foam.

2. Used white paper for my sentiment.

I also used Embossing Folder Stamping Technique referring to

Heidi Wegman's Embossing Folder Stamping

and

Audrie Magno-Gordon's Splitcoast Tutorial

Working on the side of the embossing folder with the logo,

I added Adirondak Acrylic dabbers: Raspberry, Pool and Lettuce.

Some were drying out, but I was able to get globs out onto the embossing folder, 

spritzed them with water and mixed the lumps with my fingers to thin the paint.

Set paper onto this colorful mess

press it carefully with hands.

Lift it up carefully and voila, it's like magic!

Set this aside to dry.

I was able to get 3 backgrounds from one application.

I didn't use watercolor paper, just plain old Walmart white cardstock.

Normally you will use a bit of your acrylic inks, adding small amounts in different areas of your choice.

I wanted to let you know that if your paints are drying out, they may still work with this technique!

I stamped Mike's mini flowers with tempting turquoise and pickled raspberry inks,

fussy cut and adhered with dimensional foam. Added some glitzy silver gems

As you can see this card was for my daughter's 30th birthday.

I personalized a tag, added some fibers and bling.

 Materials

Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder

Stamps: Michael Strong, Stampendous

Acrylic paint dabbers
Inkpads:
Distress pickled raspberry, SU's tempting turquoise, Versafine onxy black

Distress marker

Fibers from my stash

Thanks for visiting!!!

Wednesday's Card of the Day

Today's Card of the Day for the
Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group

 is another book paper card. 

My friend, Lynette helped me make this card at Monday's Stampfest!

It features Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonne Wings

and a tiny bunny rabbit from his Seasonal Silhouettes set (see card on left).

Lynette and I cut a piece of book paper 4.25 x 5.5 inches to cover the card front.

Using a couple of "greenery stamps" and certainly celery ink

we stamped a background on the book paper.

Our Mini Cloisonne Wings- butterfly, bird and dragonfly

were stamped on separate cardstock, fussy cut, and attached with dimensional foam.

 Lynette added a strand of fibers from her stash to the book paper layer, 

folding the edges underneath.

I added a "paper banner" with fibers to my card.

Materials

Stamps: Michael Strong, Hero Arts, Stampin' Up! and unknown company

Inks: Distress broken china, seedless preserves, 

Stampin' Up! summer sun

Versafine onyx black

Distress marker spun sugar to color bunny rabbit

Thanks for visiting!

Tuesday's Card of the Day

It was a very fun Stampfest Tuesday for me!

Lynette was happy to help me with my Card Captain cards!

Lynette's card is on the right and mine is on the left.

Same theme, different expression.

We used Mike's mini cloisonne flower stamped in Scattered Straw

both on the background book paper and on the flower layer.

For Mike's  leaf stamp we used Certainly Celery ink.

Our cardstock base is a very soft yellow.

On top of that we have a border punched green cardstock layer.

Our book paper was cut so the text is diagonal.

Then we fussy cut the flower and the leaves and attached them with dimensional foam.

We added Viva Decor pea green glitter pen to the flower and leaves.

 Thanks for visiting!

Monday's Card of the Day

Happy Monday!

This week I'm card captain at the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group.

Today's card features Mike's Cloisonne Flower and Leaf.

Plus book paper for my background. I love the printed page!

I have a few discarded books from the library that I keep for my crafting.

Starting with creamy cardstock, I added a green layer, then the book paper layer.

Stamped Mike's Mini Flower in shabby shutters on that.

Then on a separate piece of cream cardstock,
I stamped the Mike's Cloisonne Flower in dried marigold

and stamped Mike's leaf using crushed olive marker.

Fussy cut these, then sponged the edges.

Added a gemstone brad to the center of the flower

and attached the pieces with dimensional foam adhesive.

Cut a small paper banner, stamping the background with the mini flower

and wrote my sentiment by hand.

 

On the inside I stamped Mike's Mini Flower in marigold and shabby shutters, 

leaving some room for writing a personal message 

for my friend whose birthday is Friday! 

Yay, I've completed a card ahead of time!

 Materials

Stamps: Michael Strong, Printworks

Distress Inks: shabby shutters, dried marigold

Distress marker: crushed olive, black

Thanks for visiting!

Happy Easter 2015

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

 It's been a little tradition in my family to have a lamb cake for Easter.

I use my mom's recipe for pound cake and her aluminum lamb mold.

It takes awhile...preparing the cake, baking it and letting it cool,

making the frosting the right consistency and applying it.

I'm always kind of surprised how he looks when I'm done!